Integrating mechanism



J. W. LEDOUX.

INTEGRATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-21,1919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

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J. W. LEDOUX.

INTEGRATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2|, I919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

INTEGRATING MECHANTSM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12 1921.

Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 889,719.

Toall'whomz'tmayconcem:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LEDOUX, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Swarthmore, in the county of elaware and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in IntegratingMechanisms, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in integrating mechanismsoperated by differential pressures functionally with relation to a flowto be measured, and its primary object is to provide a simpleconstruction that will effect the desired integration efficientlythroughout variation in the flow of a fluid between the maximum and theminimum.

The invention is characterized by differential pressure mechanismcomprising a case containing a fluid heavier than that to be measured,in combination with an inverted cylindrical vessel carried by said fluidwithin said case and carrying a displacement device shaped so that thecross sectional areas of the space within said vessel occupied by saidfluid shall vary functionally with relation to a flowing fluid to bemeasured.

The invention is embodied in the mechanisms set forth in the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an irre lar art sectional elevation of aform 0 the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2"--of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is apart sectional elevation of a second form of theinvention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line P -4f ofFig-.3.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the mechanism comprises a case 1provided with a bottom channel 1', in which is a fluid body 2 (asmercury) heavier than the fluid to be -measured (as water).

A cylindrical bell or inverted cup 3, disposed in the case 1concentrically with the channel 1', has a downwardly tapered float ordisplacement device 4 suspended centrally therein, the connected arts 3and 4 being movable vertically un er control of rollers 5 supported bythe case and engaging the bell. The top of the bell 3 and the body ofthe displacement device 4: have the axial c lindrica passage 4 extendingtherethrou and the interior of the bell is connecte with this passage bythe passages t" which extend through the top of the d15- placementdevice. 'A check valve 6 in the top of the passage 4' permits the escapeof air from the to of the bell.

The conduit for carrying the fluid to be measured, contains a Venturisection 7, a normal section of the conduit being connected by a conduit8 with the interlor of the case 1 exterior to the bell 3 and above themercury, and a conduit 8 connects the throat of the Venturi section 7with the interior of the bell above the mercury therein extendingthrough the bottom of the case and into the-passage. 4' above thehighest level of the mercury.

A rack 9, of circular cross section, is'fixed by a yoke 9' to'the top ofthe bell 3, and engages a pinion 10 fixed on a shaft 11, which is journaled in. the top of the case and carries a hand 12 over a uniformlygraduated dial 13.

[The mechanism. is so constructed that when there is no flow of water inthe conduit 7 (the pressures in the conduits 8 and-8 being equal), thebell 3 and displacement device 4 will stand at their highest elevationwith the bell sealed, the bottom extremity of.

that communicated through. the conduit 8',

the difierential pressure exterior to the bell 3 will cause it togetherwith the device 4 to descend against the resistance of the mercury, thedisplaced mercury rising therein, and functionally with relation to thearea of the surface of the mercury within the bell. The movement isregulated by the constant character of the displacement of the bell 3and the variable character of the displacement of the float t, or thefunctionally equivalent difl'erential cross sections of the spacebetween the bell and tapered displacement device, for the eflectivewater pressure within the bell is equal to that of the surfaceofthemercury therein and varies therebottom to its top. The bell 3 hasat its top, in the plane of the top of the device 4, the exteriorchannel 3 to provide increased space for the surface strata of themercury exterior to the bell and to reduce to a minlmum the change inthe displacement by the bell in moving at low'flow, when the apex of thefloat and the surface of mercury in the bell are at approximately thesame level, the action being rendered more sensitive thereby.

An aperture 5 in the top of the bell is controlled by'a check valve 6which is elevated by the superior pressure within the bell to Close thepassage and will fall to permit the passage of air under otherconditions.

The conduit 7 has itsVenturi section 7' connected by a pipe 8 with theinterior of the case 1 above the mercury therein, and a normal sectionconnected by the pipe 8 with the interior of the bell and above themercury therein, the conduit 8' extending through the bottom of the caseand into the cylindrical passage 4 extending axially through thedisplacement device 4?.

The rack 9 is connected with the top oi? the bell 3 and engages a pinion10 carried by the shalt 11, which is journaled in the case and moves ahand 12 fixed thereon over a uniformly graduated dial. 13 of the case.

When the fluid in'the conduit 7 is stationary, the pressure communicatedtherefrom through the conduitsd and 8 are equal and the mercury willstand at the same level within and without the bell 3". The displacementdevice 45 is how submerged by its weight, with that of the connectedparts, i

so that its top is level with the surface of the mercury, which is belowthe top vof the tube 8. As the flow in the conduit 7 rises from zero tothe maximum, the pressure communicated to the interior of the bell 3through the conduit 8 rises above that communicated to the exterior ofthe bell through the conduit 8. The resultant or differential actsupwardly on 'the bell and downwardly on the displacement device andmercury therein, the effective force tending to move the bell upwardbeing that exerted on an area of the bell equ'al to the surface of themercury therein, which area decreases as the bell rises in suchmannerthat the movement shall be regular and the graduations of the dial13 uniform.

A. characteristic advantage of these constructions is that they permitthe combination of the hollow float of simple form with the shaped ortapered float having an exterior surface ofrevolution which is readilyformed with accuracy, the combination etifecting the desideratum ofproviding the largest cfiective pressure surface at the lowest flowcondition,

Having described my invention, ll claim:

An integrating mechanism comprising a case adaptedtor containing a fluidheavier sures from the lighter than another to be measured, areciprocatory bell in said case and adapted to be sealed by the heavierfluid, a displacement device movable with said bell and occupying aspace therein of variable cross section, and means for communicatingdifferential pressures from the lighter fluid to the interior of saidcase said bell.

2. An integrating mechanism comprising a case containing afluid heavierthan another to be measured, a reciprocatory cylindrical bell in saidcase and sealed by the heavier fluid, a shaped displacement device fixedto and within said bell and forming a space therein of variable crosssection, and means for communicating differential presfluid to theinterior of the case within and without said bell.

3. An integrating mechanism comprising a case containing a fluid heavierthan another fluid to be measured, a cylindrical bell movable verticallyin said case and sealed by the heavier fluid therein, a tapereddisplacement device fixed axially to and within said bell and forming aspace therein of variable cross section within which the surface of theheavier fluid is movable, and means for diflerentiating the pressure oilthe lighter fluid and communicating difl'erential pressures obtainedthereby to the interior of the case withinand without said bell.

4. An integrating mechanism comprising a case provided with a dial, ashaft journaled in said case and a hand on said shaft movable therebyover said dial, in combination with a cylindrical bell movable in saidcase, means whereby saidbell revolves said within and without shaft, atapered displacement device fixed to and within said bell so as to forma space therein which varies functionally in cross sectional area withthe flow of a fluid to be measured, and means comprising conduits forcommunicating differential pressures from said fluid last named to theinterior of said case within and without said bell;

5. An integrating mechanism comprising a case adapted for containing afluid heavier than another to be measured, a reciprocatory bell in saidcase and adapted to be sealed by said heavier fluid, a device fixed toand within said bell for displacing said heavier fluid and formingtherefor a space varying in cross section in functional relation withthe flow of the fluid to be measured, and means comprising conduits forcommunicating difl'erential pressures from said fluid to bemeasured tosaid heavier fluid within and without said hell.

'6. An integrating mechanism comprising a case adapted for holding afluid heavier than thatto be measured, a bell of regular cross sectionsadapted to be sealed by said heavier fluid, a displacement device ofirregular cross sections a tapered en menses teiior surface ofrevolution. fixed to and within said bell, and means for communicatingdifferential pressures from a lighter fluid to the interior of said casewithin and without said bell.

7. An integrating mechanism comprising a case adapted to contain a fluidheavier than another to be measured, a reciprocatory bell in said caseand adapted to be sealed by said heavier fluid, a check valve in the topof said bell, a device fixed to and within said bell for displacing saidheavier fluid and forming therefor a space varying level of the apex ofsaid device of such character as to effect slight displacement, and

means comprising conduits for commumeating differential pressures fromsaid fluid to be measured to said heavier fluid within and without saidbell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day ofNovember, 1919.

JOHN w, LEDOUX.

